Belkin USB hub severely damages my G5 tower and Macbook Pro

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Level 1

114 points

Belkin USB hub severely damages my G5 tower and Macbook Pro

3 years ago, when my G5 dual 1.8 suddenly couldn't play iTunes video smoothly anymore I had no idea what happened I just thought my ATI card fried. Until...

3 years later, when I needed an extra USB port for my MacBook Pro and dug out my old Belkin 7 port hub. I plug the belkin into the wall, my external keyboard and mouse into the belkin and my belkin into my MacBook pro.

Suddenly the external keyboard and mouse no longer work. I disconnect everything. The MacBook pro USB port still works but the video when playing hulu, or anything flash, is suddenly choppy... Just like what happened to my G5. (oddly iTunes media is fine this time.)

I'm 90% sure it's the belkin hub, but has anyone heard of this before? Is it my graphics card that fried? Or the processor? The keyboard and mouse are gone. But Is my MacBook pro salvageable? (Still under AppleCare) or should I be shopping for a mac mini a new keyboard and mouse?

Macbook Pro 2.4Ghz, Mac OS X (10.6.3), 4 GBs of ram

Posted on Apr 5, 2010 1:24 AM

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Answer 1

iVmichael

Level 6

13,740 points

Apr 5, 2010 3:57 AM in response to Enio Rigolin2

I've used a Belkin 7-port USB hub for years and never had or heard of anything like that ...

I'd check your Flash version and settings, clean your browser cache - as you say iTunes video plays fine it's nothing to do with the graphics card itself. Choppy video can be caused by many things, but USB ports isn't one of them.

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Answer 2

Apr 5, 2010 10:13 AM in response to Enio Rigolin2

If you have AppleCare, then let them deal w/it. It's what you paid them for. 😉

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Answer 3

Enio Rigolin2 Author

Level 1

114 points

Apr 5, 2010 1:08 PM in response to iVmichael

I failed to mention the belkin hub was a self-powered model (plugs into wall). AppleCare said those are definitely not safe to plug into a Mac's USB port and most likely fried something inside. I'll be taking it to an apple store, but since it was due to a third party device, AppleCare won't cover it. Time to start looking at refurbished minis. I'm just sad that my external mouse and keyboard went with it. It was a really nice keyboard. (SafeType vertical model).

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Answer 4

iVmichael

Level 6

13,740 points

Apr 5, 2010 2:40 PM in response to Enio Rigolin2

+I failed to mention the belkin hub was a self-powered model (plugs into wall). AppleCare said those are definitely not safe to plug into a Mac's USB port and most likely fried something inside.+

Mine's self-powered, I find it hard to believe an Apple employee said they weren't safe to be honest.

If they/you can prove that's the case then Belkin would be liable for replacement ...

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Answer 5

Enio Rigolin2 Author

Level 1

114 points

Apr 5, 2010 3:24 PM in response to Enio Rigolin2

While my external keyboard and mouse are unquestionably permanently fried, I turned-on my MacBook Pro today and all is fine! It has to be one or all of the following things I did last naught before bed...

Reset the PRAM

Rebuilt the hard drive with Disk Warrior

Repaired permissions with Disk Utility (after disk warrior)

Threw away that decade old belkin hub and power cord.

Whatever then reason, I'm glad to have my MBP handling processor-heavy graphics again. My G5 tower wasn't so lucky.

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Answer 6

Enio Rigolin2 Author

Level 1

114 points

Apr 5, 2010 3:28 PM in response to iVmichael

Thanks for everyone's help. And thanks for the advice, Michael. I will be contacting Belkin about my keyboard and mouse, but I'd be surprised if they offered me more than an updated replacement hub. I'll let you know.

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Answer 7

iVmichael

Level 6

13,740 points

Apr 5, 2010 11:40 PM in response to Enio Rigolin2

I've found Belkin to be very good about all types of customer feedback. I've had several pieces of their hardware over the years and twice had to go back to them with (minor) problems, on both occasions even though things were well out of warranty they replaced them without question. I'd suggest you don't throw the hub away as they may ask you to send it to them (reply paid sticker) - if there is a fault with it that's blow other devices then you may stand a chance, otherwise it's a new hub.

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